On Thursday, April 15, about 100 people gathered, including military veterans and Convention of States volunteers from Florida.
The team met in Tallahassee at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor the 30th anniversary of the end of Desert Storm and complete a mission to gather at the Florida Capitol during session.
Veterans Coalition Director for Convention of States Florida, Master Chief Terrence Walker, shared with WCTV, “I think we’ve had a very successful chance at liberty for the last 60 years because of our service members.”
The Local News came out to interview and report on the rally.
After laying a wreath and holding a moment of silence in honor of those who served, the crowd walked in unity to the World War II Memorial where they laid a wreath in honor of the brave service men and women who sacrificed so much for freedom at home and around the world. We can expand that statement to say that for the last 250 years, America has held and enjoyed liberty because of the men and women who served in the military.
Standing at the memorials, we deeply felt our veterans' legacy, rooted in the American Revolution. A quarter of a million men served in the war that won our independence. Soldiers of the Revolutionary War were responsible for creating the first great republic of modern times.
After the march, team members gathered at the Capitol Courtyard to speak to the many who participated.
"The Capitol is the people's house, and it should be open to the public during session, so We the People can be seen and our voices heard," said Brenda Karlin.
The many restrictions need to be lifted in order to enter the Capitol. At this time, there are too many rules to enter, and it is not open. The team tried to deliver packages to all legislators, and even that was a challenge. The team was ready to set up an informational table, but it was threatening heavy rain, and we were required to be outdoors at all times.
Every man or woman who has served or is currently serving in the military of the United States--at home or abroad--deserves our honor by making sure the United States of America remains militarily strong, fiscally strong, and free from any form of tyranny.
Around 90,000 men who served in the Continental Army were “volunteer army citizens.” All these men risked their lives. Those who survived became America’s first veterans--the world’s first veterans of an army of free men and women.
The Founding
Fathers gave us a Constitution to maintain freedom, and the Convention of States Project is a nationwide, non-partisan, grassroots movement providing the promise of a path to keep it.
As a “volunteer army of patriots” and citizens for self-governance, we propose that Article V of the Constitution is a solution to federal government overreach into our liberties.
Article V of the U.S. Constitution gives states the power to call a Convention of States to propose amendments. It takes 34 states to call the convention and 38 to ratify any amendments that are proposed. Our convention would only allow the states to discuss amendments that, “limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and place term limits on federal officials.”
Convention of States leaders and volunteers stand with our veterans. We thank them for the sacrifices they made to give us a free republic, and we thank those who continue to serve and protect our country.
